Tongan television viewers' bonanza [1]
Friday, December 16, 2005 - 17:54. Updated on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 16:51.
The development of the Tonga media during the past four weeks has been unprecedented, particularly in broadcasting, with a new international television broadcaster launching a Tonga service.
All in one day on November 21, the Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC) in partnership with Fiji Television beamed into Tonga 12 channels of Sky Pacific Television, and in a separate deal with Radio Australia, the TBC launched a dedicated FM station relaying Radio Australia 24 hours, and at the same time also upgraded its existing FM service to operate 24 hours.
The partnership of TBC, Fiji Television and Sky Pacific ended the exclusive right that Tonfön Television used to have on international rugby matches, and the live telecast of most test Rugby Union games. Rugby, the most popular program in any television channel in the region is now taken by Sky Pacific for one of its paid to view 12 channels.
The Sky channels coming into Tonga include Fiji One, Sky Entertainment, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, MTV, ABC Asia Pacific, CNN, Discovery Channel, Turner Classic Movies TCM, Entertainment, the Super Channel and Bollywood Extra.
Adult channel
'Elenoa 'Amanaki, the General Manager of TBC said that Sky Pacific plans to add on four more channels early next year, making it a 16 channels network, including one adult channel.
While TBC is working in affiliation with overseas broadcasters and becoming more of a relaying station, it is also planning on a second channel for its domestic service.
'Elenoa said that they were planning on a second English program channel, leaving the other channel for Tongan language programs only. At the moment Television Tonga is 60% English and 40% Tongan.
In response to Sky's expansion into Tonga, Tonfön television almost immediately introduced a sixth channel to its five channels network, and the sixth channel is telecasting rugby 24-hours, old Super -12 games and international test matches.
Taulupe Aleamotu...a, the Broadcast Controller for Tonfön Television said that Tonfon would have a seventh channel, Fox News, by the end of December. Currently on offer by Tonfön on its six channels are, BBC World, a family channel, documentaries and current affair programs, a movie channel, ABC Asia Pacific, a new sports channel.
Tau'ataina
There was also expansion in the Print Media, and a new Tongan weekly newspaper, Tau'ataina began publishing at the end of November. The Tau'ataina is Tonga's fifth weekly newspaper, is published by the Indigenous Press Ltd. It is printed in Auckland with twin offices at Mangere East, Auckland and Haveluloto, Tonga.